RENDEZVOUS
​2021
The LMNA invited all members to join us for a host of socially distanced programs including speakers and  natural history activities from April 3rd to April 30th 2021 including  City Nature Challenge 2021 · iNaturalist

Citizen Science and Individual Involvement In Conservation — Themes for 2021!

Our celebrity guest speaker Sue Ellen Lyons and our Caroline Dormon Award winning keynote speaker Bill Fontenot delivered powerful and empowering messages that Citizen science and restoration ecology can be everybody's business! LMNA uses IT to counter limitations imposed by isolation due to the pandemic: Facebook, Zoom and the iNaturalist Citizen Science platform!


​Sue Ellen Lyons
Talks Cititizen Science
​at Rendezvous 2021! 

We were blessed to have this multiple Award-winning Environmental educator address us on Citizen Science on April 3rd! Her awards and honors at the local, state and national levels, include:
  • the Louisiana Governor’s Award
  • National Wetlands Educator of the Year 
  • the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching

Watch Sue's Talk on LMNA Channel


​During her 50-year teaching career, Sue Ellen Lyons has educated thousands of Louisiana students, teachers, and citizens about the importance of Louisiana ecology and has involved them in many conservation projects.  Her primary emphasis was to increase public awareness and activism related to urban runoff and wetlands protection in coastal Louisiana; wetland restoration projects; and education of schools in the Greater New Orleans area about urban runoff and Louisiana’s wetland issues.
​
 At the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, she co-taught weekend-long workshops that introduced teachers to the swamps and marshes around Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain. Lyons has also co-authored a series of teaching curriculum supplements that advocate the use of innovative educational strategies to enhance students’ creative and critical thinking skills about ecology!

Before her retirement, Lyons was a member of numerous committees, commissions, and task forces. She was instrumental in establishing several state science teacher organizations, and was a co-founder of the Louisiana Environmental Education Interagency Committee, helping to draft, and lobbied to pass, environmental education legislation for the state school system. 
Through workshops, Lyons has taught hundreds of teachers how to educate their students about wetland functions and values!

Nature Notes Presentations

Many thanks again, Katherine Gividen, for sharing your superbly topical viewing list!
LMNGBR Nature Notes ~ Louisiana Native Plants
LMNGBR Nature Notes ~ Louisiana Weather and Climate
LMNGBR Nature Notes ~ Save Our Snakes
LMNGBR Nature Notes ~ Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative
LMNGBR Nature Notes ~ Baton Rouge City Nature Challenge
All paid-up LMNA members were allowed to join our Rendezvous 2021 Facebook group for updates but only registered Rendezvous members (who paid their donation) could enter the contests and scavenger hunt.

Rendezvous 2021 Details and Links

OPening Day Saturday April 3
Order of events*
09:00 Introduction by Dr. Bob Thomas

09:10 Citizen Science Projects illustrated talk by award-winning Science teacher, Sue Ellen Lyons

​09:30 Photo & Video Contest Introductions by Charles Paxton (entrants had to be registered to be eligible for awards)
​
09:50 Scavenger Hunt Intro by Dr. Bette Kauffman (entrants had to be registered to be included)

10:30 How to use iNaturalist by Janie Braud
*approximate timings
The Scavenger Hunt
 In an imaginative application of the iNaturalist platform for a scavenger hunt, Dr. Bette Kauffman used an iNaturalist Collection Project extending across the whole state! There were 31 observers with 643 observations and 162 Identifiers!  Our Scavenger Hunt Rules Visit iNat project ​​

What is a scavenger hunt?

Scavenger hunts are popular games in which participants can enjoy the thrill of the chase. People quest to be first to find things that are on a list. The first person to demonstrably find all the items on their list is the winner! 
CarolinE Dormon Award
The keynote speech by Bill Fontenot, winner of the 2021  Dormon Award
was delivered over zoom April 25th at 2:00 p.m. Read more about Bill Fontenot here
Photo & Video Contests
iNaturalist City Challenge 2021
Local Bioblitzes

Kistachie National Forest - April 10

Join a party of Louisiana Master Naturalists to explore the wonderful Kisatchie National Forest! 
Social Evening Get-togethers
Social activities and games coordinated by Janie Braud were great fun and highly informative. They included small group chats, nature quizzes and wildlife identification games!
​Round up Sunday, April 25th 
Via Zoom APRIL 25TH – 2:00 PM -3:30 PM View video​
  • Announcement of Contest Winners      
  • Presentation of the Caroline Dormon Award 
  •  Keynote speech by Dormon Award winner
On-line Training, Field Trips, Competitive Activities, Statewide!
LMNA's Scavenger Hunt was a great success and possibly the first time the iNat citizen science platform has served such a purpose in Louisiana! 
​Visit iNat project 

Please click the above screenshot to visit the project's Stats view!
Our members-only Facebook group served as hub for news updates and participation!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rendezvous2021

Kistachie National Forest  April 10th

 Southwest Chapter led a hike to explore a remarkable biodiversity hotspot with fellow naturalists. ​They went up 171 to Hwy10 toward Tower Rd and Pitcher Plants are marked on Irvin's iNat map.  They looped up to North Fort Polk and returned to 171 with stops at woodpecker trees and bat bridges!  For more info on this fascinating area please see: 
​https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/southern/CootersBog/index.shtml

Celebrating Bill Fontenot!

LMNA's State Board chose William R. “Bill” Fontenot M.S, the esteemed ornithologist, native plantsman and wildlife landscape restoration ecologist as the latest recipient of the 2021 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award! Bill was selected by popular vote from a short-list of very powerful nominations as our 2021 Caroline Dormon Award Winner on March 29th. He is the fourth winner since the inception of the award and it was agreed that he met and exceeded the selection criteria for the state’s premiere award for outstanding naturalist.
 
  Bill’s naturalist career has had far-reaching and persistent impact in our region, and beyond. As museum curator, nature station manager, author, local columnist for over two decades he has helped educate the public about our natural heritage. As an active restoration ecologist with his own landscape restoration business he continues to serve as a transformative exemplar.  Read full article The Dormon Award
"WHO are you?" by Natalie Poole, outright winner in the Naturalist category!
The photo and video contest entry period ended Noon April 21st, the voting deadline was extended to noon on April 24th. Members clicked a heart to 'love' one professional and amateur image in each category. We could like as many as we wished. Check out the photo albums on our Blog page: LMNA Photo Contest 2021 Gallery
And the videos are currently visible at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/686029452070075/media/videos
but will ultimately go to our LMNA Channel on YouTube.
Pale Pitcher Plants. Image courtesy and copyright © Irvin Louque 2018 all rights reserved.

The 2022 LMNA Rendezvous Venue Has Changed. More info soon !